책임운영기관 농촌진흥청 국립축산과학원

Fluorescence microscopy has been used to analyze protein expression, antibody detection, ion changes like calcium and free radicals in the live cells. These analyses are used for bovine embryos with limited data on the photo toxicity. The exposure time and intensity of fluorescence light also effect on developmental potency and viability of embryos. When a UV light of 361-389 nm was irradiated to early blastocysts for 15 seconds of exposure time and 1/32 reduced power, the embryos developed to expanded or hatched blastocyst with 2 days culture (86.0 vs 78.3%). However, the exposure of UV light for 30 or 45 seconds resulted in embryonic death within 24 hr. The viability of blastomere was significantly reduced to 15.9% and 1.5% respectively. The viability was significantly reduced by UV light, but the real-time images with a fluorescence microscope would be obtained at 1/32 reduced power and exposure time of 15 sec. Therefore, the live cell imaging of bovine early blastocyst does not affect the normal development with maximum 15 frames by 1 second exposure time. These findings could be basic information for the vulnerability of bovine embryos to fluorescence microscopy for real-time analysis.